Star Sports Pro Kabaddi: Telugu Titans start their campaign with a 36-27 win over Dabang Delhi

Telugu Titans’ Rahul Chaudhari (L) and Meraj Sheykh celebrate after taking a point against Dabang Delhi

The NSCI Stadium in Mumbai saw Telugu Titans emerge victorious with a thumping 36-27 win over Dabang Delhi. Rahul Chaudhari and Iranian Meraj Sheykh were the star players for the team from Hyderabad.

The first points of the match came through last season’s raider of the tournament Rahul Chaudhari’s raid. Dabang Delhi hit back straight away through Rohit Kumar Chaudhary. Telugu Titans. The team from the South gradually increased their lead and showed their dominance early in the match with the scoreline reading 7-2 in their favour.

Despite a strong raid by Rohit for Delhi, which yielded 2 points, including 1 of Iranian Hadi Oshtorak, the Dabangs got out after Kashiling Adake was caught in the 14th minute. Fellow Iranian Meraj Sheykh got both his raids spot on as the Titans kept on stretching the lead.

The half-time whistle went soon after as the Titans took a breather with the scoreline reading 18-8 in their favour. Dabang Delhi coach Honappa C Gowda had a task on his hand to turn the scoreline around as his team looked bereft of any ideas.

The most expensive player Meraj Sheykh showed his quality

The first points of the second half went to the team leading at the half as Deepak Hudda stretched to reach the halfway line after getting a touch. However, with just Kashiling Adake and Ravinder Pahal left in the Delhi half, Titans’ raider Rahul got out as Delhi tried to close down the lead.

Like it happened in the first half, Telugu raced away to a 13-point lead with 10 minutes to go in the match. After Rohit Kumar got Delhi a point, Titans youngster Sandeep Narwal’s smart work restored the Titans’ lead as he rushed in the Delhi half as soon as Rohit had retreated.

In the 32nd minute, Delhi were given another setback as Rohit Kumar was shown a green card. The Dabang players thought they had Deepak Hudda out, but the Titans raider had stretched his left foot to get a couple of points. Meraj Sheykh was having a stellar debut and he was proving worth every penny laid out by the Titans to seal his signature.

Hadi Oshtorak suffered an injury with 3 minutes left on the clock and had to hobble out with the scoreline at 35-25 in Telugu’s favour. However, his teammate did not let the Titans feel Oshtorak’s absence as he was lively at the back as well despite Rahul Chaudhari’s being on the bench.

The Dabangs were trailing by 10 points in the final minute as Sukesh Hegde went in to raid for the Titans, but had to return empty handed. The Dabangs got a point in the final raid, but were unable to restrict Telugu Titans to a 7-point win, which would have guaranteed them a point.

The result meant that Delhi returned without a point, while Telugu took all 5 after their 36-27 win.

Man of the match: Meraj Sheykh